Relationship between Body Composition and HRQOL in Primary School Children

Abstract

The dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity in developed and developing countries has become a major health care concern. There is an increasing recognition of the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and obesity in the pediatric population. Subjective experience of one’s own health, and how children see their own lives is also very important. Children with an increased amount of body fat have a negative perception of the HRQOL, unlike those who have a normal amount of body fat. A total of 181 children participated in this study (mean age 7.71 ±0.29 years, 88 girls). For the assessment of the body composition the InBody 230 device was used, while for the assessment of HRQOL the proxy version of KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire was used. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the body composition and the HRQOL in children of primary school age. The analysis of the results showed that the BMI is in significant negative correlation with the two dimensions of HRQOL in boys (Psychological Well-being and School), while in girls there is no statistically significant relationship. The correlation between the Percentage of Body Fat (PBF) and HRQOL is significant and negative in boys in 4 dimensions (Physical Well-being, Psychological Well-being, Social Support & Peers, School), while in girls it is negative and significant only in one dimension (Physical Well-being). The results indicate that there are changes in the body composition of children, such as the increased BMI and BFP, reduced HRQOL, i.e. obesity is in inverse relationship to HRQOL.